Annie's Saint Lucia Buns

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Annie made these Lucia Buns for us on Saint Lucia Day. But she did have to start them the day before. They were really delicious. One of the details I came up with in the end to take care of a little hitch in the kit-along. Annie started making these at about 11:45 at night. I know this because while I was rather soundly sleeping I began hearing the sound of someone slowly approaching the third floor, and then slowing approaching the bed. Now because I know Annie, I suspected that it was her in search of some ingredient she couldn't find. Luckily Riley did not panic, because he can really come flying out of bed when he's asleep and thinks someone is threatening him. She couldn't find the saffron. So I told her where I thought it was, and that was the last we heard of her. I would highly recommend starting the buns earlier than midnight.


So early in the evening of the day before you want the buns in the morning get started. Then, after the dough has risen once, form the buns, cover them with a dampish tea towel, and leave to rise over night. This works well in our house in the winter, as it gets very cold at night - a bit like a refrigerator.

2 tablespoons butter
1 cup milk
4 crushed cardamon pods

Put into a glass dish for about 50 seconds. Then let sit to melt the butter. Remove the cardamon pods and add:

1 tablespoon yeast
2 teaspoons sugar

Stir just a bit, and leave for about 5 minutes to proof.
Mix the yeast mixture and the milk mixture with:

1 scant pound of flour

Knead until it is not sticky, and then leave to rise for about an hour or so.

Mix mix together:

1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp ground cardamon

Then add this mixture to the risen dough.
At this point you can form the dough into the lucia buns.
There are many shapes that you can chose from.
Put them on parchment paper on trays, cover with damp tea towels and leave to rise over-night.

In the morning heat the oven to 450 degrees.
Make an egg wash with 1 egg yolk and a dab of water, and brush onto the risen buns.
Sprinkle with some perl sugar if you like, and if you have some.
And if you like put on some raisins. Annie mistook dried cherries for raisins, and that was tasty.
Bake for 7-8 minutes. It all depends on how big your buns are.

frosting:

1 egg white
1/4 cup sugar

Beat with an electric mixer until very white and foamy.
Brush onto the buns as desired.

Riley's Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins

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Riley is actually a very good cook. He just doesn't cook all that often.
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Whisk together:

* 2 cups flour
* 1 Tb baking powder
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 1/2 tsp baking soda
* grated nutmeg
* 2 tsp Lemon zest or to taste…

Whisk in another bowl:

* 2 large eggs * 1 cup buttermilk * 2/3 cup sugar * 1/2 cup melted
butter (vegetable oil will work if you are desperate, but be prepared to be under- whelmed) * 1/4 tsp Vanilla…

Mix wet with dry ingredients quickly, don't over mix*. Then throw in some
blueberries, about 3/4 cup, and barely mix. Fill paper lined muffin tins (12 large or 24 medium) and bake at 400 degrees about 12-15 minutes, checking every few minutes after the first ten. When bamboo skewer comes out clean they are done!

*This is one of those recipes where you can tell if it was over-mixed, so be gentle.

Should keep about 15 minutes if you have eaters lurking about, or til next morning if you hide some.

Beer Bread from Bonnie McCollister

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2 2/3 cups self-rising flour
1/3 cup sugar
12 oz beer

Stir together flour and sugar.

Fold in the beer (slowly) just to absorb all moisture.

Pour into a greased and floured bread pan.

Bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees.

note: if using all-purpose flour, add 1 Tbl baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt)

Carol's Favorite Individual Banana Nut Bread Muffins

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1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup local organic honey
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed, very ripe bananas (3 heavy ones)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Cream the butter. Add the sugar and honey and beat until creamy and light. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in the bananas. Sift together the dry ingredients and blend into the mixture. Fold in the nuts. Butter a muffin pan and spoon in the batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out moist but clean.

Jane's Favorite Rolls from Joan Jensen

Mom made these home-made tolls for Thanksgiving.

1 cup scalded milk
1/4 cup margarine (butter)
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp salt

Mix these together and add 1 cup flour.
Cool to luke-warm.
Dissolve 2 packages of dry yeast in 1/2 cup warm water.
Add to the above mixture 1 egg, beaten.
Then add to the liquid mixture about 4 cups of additional flour, beating thoroughly after each cup.
[Note" the recipe does not say to knead the bread]

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover.
Let rise until double in bulk.
Form rolls with floured fingers as dough tends to be sticky.
Place in greased pans. Brush tops lightly with milted butter.
Cover and let rise until double in bulk.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Banana Tea Bread from Joan Jensen

1/3 cup shortening (I use oil)
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2-3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 3/4 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbl lemon juice
1 cup dates, chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

note from the transcriber:
This recipe contained only the ingredients, so I will create directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift together the dry ingredients.
Cream the shortening and the sugar.
Add eggs and beat well.
Stir the lemon juice into the mashed bananas.
Slowly add flour mixture, alternating with bananas.
Stir in the dates and nuts.
Pour into greased loaf pan.
Bake 1 hour, or until cake tester comes out clean.

This could also be baked in a bundt pan, or two smaller loaf pans,

Poppy Seed Bread from Julie Cantrell

We have made this bread every year for Christmas for years!! I remember taking it to the ladies at the plant ... I think it came from Patti, maybe? Very easy!!

1 pkg yellow cake mix (make sure it doesn't' have pudding in the mic .. cheap mixes work best)
1 pkg instant coconut pudding
3/4 cup canola oil
1 cup water
3 eggs
1/4 cup poppy seeds

Mix thoroughly and pour into two greased and floured bread pans and bake at 350 for 35 minutes.